QUESTIONNAIRES USED FOR INTERVIEWING SURVIVORS
AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS TO INVESTIGATE CONSEQUENCES OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS

The interview approach and questions were developed from experiences of the Community Trauma
Prevention Center, Kiryat Shemona, the International Trauma Relief Network, interviews with clinical
psychologists, and early interviews with family member of victims of suicide bombings in
Wadi Ara near
Haifa, French Hill and the Sbarro Pizzeria in Jerusalem. (For reasons of space the questions are not set out
in this report with the requisite gaps between questions to record answers.)

A. QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SURVIVORS GUIDANCE FOR THE INTERVIEWER

A. Ensure respondent is comfortable. Sit opposite them and make sympathetic eye contact. Maybe
drink coffee/cold drink together.
B. Conduct interview in quiet place, usually one person at a time, with Interviewer asking questions in
primary language (Hebrew/Russian/English/French/Arabic) of respondent.
C. If respondent has other family members present as in family interview, or as support to them, record
their presence.
D. Interviewer should be sympathetic, supportive, and strongly aware of possible effect of rekindled
painful feelings in respondent.
E. If the respondent doesn't want to answer a question e.g. about suicide bomber, do not probe, just
record their statement and go on to next question.
F. The interview will probably take around three hours. Do not rush respondent.
G. By the end of the interview the aim is for respondent to feel strengthened in their own resilience.
H. The interviewer may use a tape recorder if respondent agrees, but must take notes as main source of
information. Interviewer is a 'sympathetic listener', who asks gently probing questions to help recall.
I. There is brief factual information in Al and 2 and 3 which the interviewer must fill in before the
interview. This saves time for the later important 'probing' questions.

A. MINIMUM BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT INTERVIEW, RESPONDENT AND BOMBING

(Interviewer to fill in as much as possible in sections 1.2.3 BEFORE interview)
The Interviewer may wish to say "First I would like to ask you a few questions about yourself"

1. PLACE OF INTERVIEW Date (day/month/year)

1.1 Time of interview
1.2 Name of interviewer
Tel: Fax: Cellphone: e-mail address:
1.3 Language of interview
1.4 Name of interpreter if used.

2. PERSONAL DETAILS OF RESPONDENT

2.1 Name of respondent:
Address (Current place of residence)
Tel: Fax: Cellphone:
2.2 Age of respondent:
2.3 Gender (tick one): male female
2.4 Relationship to incident: (tick) survivor
2.5 Present nationality(ies)
2.6 Ethnic background: (tick one) sabra-born immigrant from FSU immigrant from Europe
immigrant from Ethiopia immigrant from other place; ifso which Arab Israeli
Overseas Worker If yes, from which country How long working in Israel
2.7 Marital Status (tick one): single married divorced widow(er)
2.8 Number of children If has children write ages of children
2.9 Education (tick one plus add grade) In School now grade In college grade In
university now Other, if other what -
2.10 Present occupation/profession
2.11 Unemployed at present.... If yes for how long
2.12 Are you unemployed because of the suicide bombing? Yes No

3. DETAILS OF PARTICULAR BOMBING INCIDENT
(Interviewer should fill in as much as possible BEFORE the interview)

3.1 Date of bombing: Day Month Year
3.2 Place of suicide bombing(s): City Town Public Highway
3.3 Location by type (tick one): Shopping mall Market Hotel Cafe/Restaurant Bus stop
Bus station Other If other Exactly where
3.4 Time of bombing(s) (24 hour time/am/pm)
3.5 Characteristics of bomber(s) age gender (m/f) Don't know...
3.6 Whether respondent has been in more than one bombing (tick one): Only one Two More than
two
3.7 Have other family members or friends been involved in a suicide bombing? No Yes if yes who and
when

B. IMMEDIATE PERIOD AFTER BOMBING
Interviewer: "I have read about that bombing, and I would like to ask you a few questions about what you
remember that day."

4. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT BY RESPONDENT

(This is mostly a description by respondent of his/her own recall of events, feelings, responses, and those of
others, in his/her own words. To help recall the interviewer asks gently the questions which follow, aware of
the likely painful and possibly dis-empowering effect of such memories. May be difficult for respondents to
differentiate between what they 'thought' and what they 'felt, if they have not had therapy). To help
interviewer key words are in capital letters.

4.1 Can you tell me what happened JUST BEFORE the bombing?
4.2 What were you doing WHEN the bombing took place?
4.3 What did YOU SEE/HEAR/SMELL? E.g noise, screaming, fire, smoke.
4.4 What happened immediately AFTER the explosion?
4.5 What did you DO ?
4.6 What did OTHER PEOPLE AROUND YOU DO?
4.7. What were your first THOUGHTS ?
4.8 What did YOU FEEL?
4.9 Did you see the suicide bomber(s)? If so what did he/she/they look like? (If not mentioned already.)
4.10 Were you physically wounded by the explosion? If so how?
4.11 What HELPED you most during the attack?
4.12 What UPSET you most during the attack?
4.13 Who gave you immediate primary assistance (tick one) passer by another wounded person police
soldier other if other who
4.14 Did you go to hospital? No Yes if yes how and who with?
4.15 Which hospital were you taken to?(write name of hospital)
4.16 Were you unconscious after the bombing: yes no If yes, for how long?
4.17 When did you first see a member of your own family? Who was it/were they?
4.18 How long did you stay in hospital?
4.19 What was your most frequent THOUGHTS after the bombing?
4.20 During your hospital stay what were you FEELING most often?
4.21 Who is the one person you found MOST HELPFUL at that time? (Professional or other person).
4.22 What kind of volunteers/voluntary organizations helped you or you family during this time?
4.23 Was there a follow-up or discharge plan, and if so what was it? (e.g. physical, psychological).

C. MEDIUM & LONGER TERM CONSEQUENCES

5. AFTER DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL

5.1 How long have you been at home now?
5.2 How did your work colleagues/teachers/schoolmates treat you after the bombing?
5.3 What kinds of therapists have helped you (tick all which apply) psychologists, trauma counselors,
psychiatrists, physiotherapists, social workers , others if others who
5.4 Do you feel you could benefit from additional help? If so what kind and how can you get it?
5.5 What THOUGHTS HELP you most today?
5.6 What THOUGHTS do you STILL FIND DISTURBING?
5.7 What FEELINGS do you STILL FIND DISTURBING?
5.8 What do you feel now about suicide bombers and their families?
5.9 Today when you see another suicide bombing on TV what do you feel and what do you do?
5.10 What are the things you DO NOW which you find HELP you?
5.11 What are the things which people have done which HAVE HELPED you the most?
5.12 What are the things which people have done which HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL?
5.13 Have you experienced financial difficulties? (tick one) No Yes If yes do you receive financial help?
If so, from where and how much a week Or a month
5.14 What are other difficulties you continue to face?
5.15 What do you think can be done about them?
5.16 Do you meet with other survivors/families of victims? (Y/N) If yes, how and where?
5.17 If you meet with them do you find it useful (Y/N) If yes why?
5.18 Do you have contact with a particular Terror Victims' support organization? (Y/N) If yes which one?
5.19. Looking back now do you think there was anything positive which emerged from your experiences?
Interviewer: "I have asked you a lot of questions, are there any last thoughts you would like to add? Is there
anything you think we need to know that we have not asked you? Are there any ways to help we should know
about and maybe pass on to someone else? What would you particularly like people outside Israel to know?
Is there anything you have said which you don't want published? Why were you willing to be interviewed?

Thank you very much for speaking with me. What you have shared with me has been much appreciated. It can help many people inside and outside the country to understand better what is really happening in Israel.

Please tell us if we can mention your full name ... First initial only...Both initials...No name...Please tell me
now" (tick which apply).

(Interviewer may like to sit and talk with respondent for a few minutes, have a cold/hot drink, to check
respondent is in a positive mood before she leaves. Two days later phone to find out how the respondent is
after the interview).

B. QUESTIONNAIRE FOR FAMILIES OF VICTIMS
(Who were NOT at the place of the bombing)

GUIDANCE FOR THE INTERVIEWER.

A. Ensure respondent is comfortable. Sit opposite them and make sympathetic eye contact. Maybe
drink coffee/cold drink together.
B. Conduct interview in quiet place, usually one person at a time, with Interviewer asking questions in
primary language (Hebrew/Russian/English/French/Arabic) of respondent.
C. If respondent has other family members present as in family interview, or as support to them, record
their presence.
D. Interviewer should be sympathetic, supportive, and strongly aware of possible effect of rekindled
painful feelings in respondent.
E. If the respondent doesn't want to answer a question e.g. about suicide bomber, do not probe, just
record their statement and go on to next question.
F. The interview will probably take around three hours. Do not rush respondent.
G. By the end of the interview the aim is for respondent to feel strengthened in their own resilience.
H. The interviewer may use a tape recorder if respondent agrees, but must take notes as main source of
information. Interviewer is a 'sympathetic listener', who asks gently probing questions to help recall.
I. There is brief factual information in Al and 2 and 3 which the interviewer must fill in before the
interview. This saves time for the later important 'probing' questions.

A. MINIMUM BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT INTERVIEW, RESPONDENT AND BOMBING.
(Interviewer to fill in as much as possible in sections 1.2.3 BEFORE interview). The Interviewer may wish to
say "First I would like to ask you a few questions about yourself"

1. PLACE OF INTERVIEW Date (day/month/year)
1.1 Time of interview
1.2 Name of interviewer
Tel: Fax: Cellphone: e-mail address:
1.3 Language of interview
1.4 Name of interpreter if used.

2. PERSONAL DETAILS OF RESPONDENT
2.1 Name of respondent: Address (Current place of residence)
Tel: Fax: Cellphone:
2.2 Age of respondent:
2.3 Gender (tick one): male female
2.4 Relationship to victim (tick where relevant): Mother, Father, Wife, Husband, Daughter, Son, Sister,
Brother Other if other what?
2.5 Present nationality(ies)
2.6 Ethnic background: (tick one) sabra-born immigrant from FSU immigrant from Europe
immigrant from Ethiopia immigrant from other place if so, which Arab Israeli
Overseas Worker If yes, from which country How long working in Israel
2.7 Marital Status (tick one): single married divorced widow(er)
2.8 Number of children If has children write ages of children
2.9 Education (tick one plus add grade) In School now-grade In college grade In
university now Other, if other what -
2.10 Present occupation/profession
2.11 Unemployed at present.... If yes for how long
2.12 Are you unemployed because of the suicide bombing? Yes No

3. DETAILS OF PARTICULAR BOMBING INCIDENT
(Interviewer should fill in as much as possible BEFORE the interview)

3.1 Date of bombing: Day Month Year
3.2 Place of suicide bombing(s): City Town Public Highway
3.3 Location by type (tick one): Shopping mall Market Hotel Cafe/Restaurant Bus stop
Bus station Other If other Exactly where
3.4 Time of bombing(s) (24 hour time/am/pm)
3.5 Characteristics of bomber(s) age gender(m/f) Don't know...
3.6 Whether respondent has been in more than one bombing (tick one): Only one Two More than
two
3.7 Have other family members or friends been involved in a suicide bombing?
No Yes if yes who and when

B. IMMEDIATE PERIOD AFTER BOMBING
Interviewer: "I have read about that bombing, and I would like to ask you a few questions about what you
remember that day."

4. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT BY RESPONDENT
(This is mostly a description by respondent of his/her own recall of events, feelings, responses, and those of
others, in his/her own words. To help recall the interviewer asks gently the questions which follow, aware of
the likely painful and possibly dis-empowering effect of such memories. May be difficult for respondents to
differentiate between what they 'thought' and what they 'felt, if they have not had
therapy). To help interviewer key questions are in capital letters.

4.1 What were you doing at the time of the bombing?
4.2 How did you hear about the bombing? e.g. telephone, saw on TV.
4.3 What did YOU DO when you heard about the bombing?
4.4 What did OTHER PEOPLE AROUND YOU DO?
4.5 What were your FIRST THOUGHTS?
4.6 What did YOU FEEL?
4.7 When and how did you realize you had LOST someone you loved?
4.8 What did you DO?
4.9 What were your FIRSTS THOUGHTS?
4.10 What did you FEEL?
4.11 What HELPED YOU MOST after you heard?
4.12 What was the most DISTURBING and UPSETTING thing at that time?
4.13 Who gave you immediate support during that time (tick which apply) wounded family member
police soldier other if other who
4.14 Did you have to travel to identify your loved one? No Yes If yes, to where and with whom did you
travel?
4.15 How was identification of your loved one made?
4.16 Tell me about it and what were your FIRST THOUGHTS?
4.17 What were your FEELINGS at that time?
4.18 Who helped you most when you did identify your loved one?
4.19 What did they do which was MOST HELPFUL?
4.20 What was NOT HELPFUL to you at that time?
4.21 What kinds of volunteers/organizations helped you/your family at that time?
4.22 What did they do?
4.23 Looking back now, if you could have CHANGED any one thing what would it be?
4.24 Before you lost your loved one had you already lost someone you loved? No Yes If yes, who and
when?

C. MEDIUM & LONGER TERM CONSEQUENCES
Interviewer: "I would like to ask you a few questions about how you have managed after the bombing. What
you can tell me can also be useful to others who are trying to cope after similar bombings.

5. AFTER DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL
5.1 How long is it now since that bombing?
5.2 How did your work colleagues/teachers/schoolmates treat you after the bombing?
5.3 What kinds of therapists have helped you (tick all which apply) psychologists trauma counselors
psychiatrists physiotherapists social workers others if others who
5.4 What psychological or emotional help do you feel you still need and how can you get it?
5.5 What do you THINK about now which HELPS you?
5.6 Are there still things that you THINK about which DISTURB you? No yes If yes, what things?
5.7 What do you FEEL now which HELPS YOU?
5.8 Do you have FEELINGS now which STILL DISTURB you?
5.9 What do you feel now about suicide bombers and their families?
5.10 When you see another suicide bombing on television what ARE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS and
what do you do?
5.11 What are the things you DO now which HELP you?
5.12 What are the things you do now which are NOT HELPFUL?
5.13 How have other people HELPED and in what ways?
5.14 What are the things which people do which STILL DISTURB YOU?
5.15 Have you experienced financial difficulties? (tick one) No Yes If yes do you receive financial help?
If so, from where and how much a week a month
5.16 What are the main other difficulties you continue to face?
5.17 What do you think can be done about them?
5.18 Do you meet with other survivors/families of victims? (Y/N) If yes, how and where?
5.19 If you meet with them do you find it useful (Y/N) If yes in what way?
5.20 Do you have contact with a particular Terror Victims' support organization? (Y/N) If yes which one?
5.21. Looking back now do you think there was anything positive which emerged from your experiences?

Interviewer: "I have asked you a lot of questions, are there any last thoughts you would like to add? Is there
anything you think we need to know that we have not asked you? Are there any ways to help we should know
about and maybe pass on to someone else? What would you particularly like people outside Israel to know?
Is there anything you have said that you don't want published? Why were you willing to be interviewed?

Thank you very much for speaking with me. What you have shared with me has been much appreciated. It can help many people inside and outside the country to understand better what is really happening in Israel.

Please tell us if we can mention your full name... First initial only.. .Both initials.. .No name... "(tick which apply).

(Interviewer may like to sit and talk with respondent for a few minutes, have a cold/hot drink, to check
respondent is in a positive mood before she leaves. Two days later phone to find out how the respondent is
after the interview).